Disclaimer: After all this time, I still don't own Inuyasha. (Sigh)

A/N: Okay. I am so, so sorry that it has taken me so long to update. The last month at school has been really busy. And I was sick for a while. And I have a foot problem. And then I started working on this chapter and changed my mind about what I wanted to have happen about half way through. But I'm not sick anymore and classes are over so hopefully I will have more time to work on my fics. Anyway this chapter has a bit of what some of you may consider OOCness, but I could picture it happening sometime, so I included it. Anyway, here you go.

A Glimpse Ahead

Chapter 7

Ritsuko came up behind Inuyasha, who was still holding Kagome in his arms, "We should get her back to Kaede's. We don't know yet if her ability to heal herself is permanent so it's better to be safe than sorry."

Inuyasha looked down at Kagome. She was gasping for breath. He wasn't even sure how his own healing power would hold up against such wounds if they weren't properly treated as well. He carefully lifted the girl and was about to take off when Miroku's voice stopped him, "What about Kikyo? We might still be able to save her as well."

Inuyasha sniffed the air then shook his head. Kikyo was gone. But for some reason he didn't care. Kagome was all that mattered to him right now, although he could not quite recall how that decision had come about. He just knew that without Kagome, he suddenly couldn't imagine what his life would be like. It was a more intense feeling than he had ever had for Kikyo. So, without any further answer, Inuyasha sped off toward the village through the now darkened forest, going as fast as he could without causing more damage to Kagome.

By the time they reached the village, some of Kagome's smaller wounds were beginning to heal. Inuyasha noted this with some relief, but refused to relax until Kagome had been treated my Kaede.

Kaede made Inuyasha wait outside as she examined Kagome, as his continuous pacing proved to be a bit of a distraction. Luckily, the others had arrived and were trying their best to calm the hanyou down.

"Do not worry Inuyasha. Kagome-sama is much stronger than she seems," Miroku tried to reassure him.

But it wasn't until quite a while later that Inuyasha had the brilliant idea of asking Ritsuko how the situation would turn out.

"Well," she replied, "even being from the future, I can't tell you for sure. You have to understand that the future is never set in stone. I had no idea that this would happen. But I believe that she will survive her wounds. However, we will have to wait and see what Kaede-sama thinks."

As if on cue, Kaede appeared at the door of the hut.

"Well, how is she?" Inuyasha asked while trying not to sound too worried.

"It is difficult to say. Her wounds seem to have healed as before, however, she has not awakened and I am not fully sure as to the reason."

Shippo asked, "So what's going to happen?"

"First," replied Kaede, "I think we should let her be for the night. Her life is not currently in any danger and she may wake up on her own. If she has not regained consciousness by tomorrow morning, then there is a spell that I can try that will allow for ye to enter Kagome's subconscious. Then ye can try to wake her up from there."

"Me?!" Inuyasha exclaimed.

"Well actually any of ye who want to try. We might have better luck if more than one person goes, although the spell will become more difficult. But we will discuss it more if it becomes necessary. For now, I suggest that ye get some rest. It has been quite a day and there's nothing more to be done for Kagome until morning."

Nodding in agreement, the others followed Kaede into the hut and, after a quick meal, got ready for bed. As the others slept, Inuyasha stayed awake, watching over Kagome. She still hadn't shown any sign of waking and it was driving Inuyasha crazy, even if he knew she wasn't in danger of dying anymore. He leaned over her brushed her bangs off her forehead as he silently pleaded with her to open her eyes. He watched her intently for any change. When he received no response, he sighed and leaned back against the wall behind him.

Ritsuko's voice snapped him back to attention, "You're going to go tomorrow, aren't you? Into her subconscious? I mean, if it's necessary."

Inuyasha hesitated for a moment but then nodded.

"I know that you care about her and I want you to know that I'll go with you tomorrow."

Inuyasha's eyes widened slightly and he said softly, "It's her then, isn't it? I thought it might be. And to be honest, I kind of hoped it would be."

"Yeah, it's her," Ritsuko said, with a soft smile.

"I suppose that makes sense. You have the exact same eyes as her, you know?"

Ritsuko nodded, "Yeah, but I got my father's hair."

Inuyasha smirked at that.

"I would have told you sooner," continued Ritsuko, "but I was told not to tell anyone until you had figured it out for yourself. I know that you've kept your feelings for her to yourself because you're afraid of rejection but you have to know, she won't reject you. She's been going through the exact same thing. She does love you. And when we get her back, you have to tell her. My existence, and perhaps both of yours as well, depends on it."

Inuyasha regarded Ritsuko thoughtfully for a moment before she turned around to go back to sleep and he focused his attention back on Kagome. Now he knew, Kagome was to be his mate, if she ever woke up. Inuyasha shook that thought from his head. Kagome would wake up, even if he had to drag her back to consciousness kicking and screaming. He wasn't going to give up on her and he wasn't going to let her give up either.

Feeling a little more at ease, Inuyasha decided to try to get some sleep. Before giving into his dreams, he leaned down and whispered into Kagome's ear, "I'll see you tomorrow."

As he fell into sleep, he failed to notice the corners of Kagome's lips turn up for a brief second before returning to her previous state. However, Kaede had awoken momentarily and caught the brief smile and commented under her breath, "Amazing, even in her current condition, Inuyasha is still able to reach her. Those two are full of surprises." Then she went back to sleep with the feeling that everything would some how turn out all right.